HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneous Fire Damage Report 1980-12-19
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CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
SPRINGFIELD, OREGON 97477
PUBLIC WORKS
December 19, 1980
346 MAIN STREET
726-3753
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CERTIFIED LEITER
Mr. Alfred K. Phelps
2460 West 23rd Street
Eugene, Oregon 97400.
SUBJECT: Fire Damage at 1072~ Main Street, Springfield, Oregon
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Dear Mr. Phelps:
Pursuant to a fire damage report received from the Springfield Fire Department,
the Building Division of the City of Springfield made an inspection at 1072~
Main Street, Springfield, Oregon. Although structural damage as a result of
the fire was moderate, it was noted that the building contained numerous Uni-
form Housing Code (U.H.C.) safety violations. Further investigation revealed
that previous inspections had been made by this office at said property, and
violations found as a result of those inspections were requested to be corrected.
However, our recent inspection found that those violations still exist.
The existing violations and previous failures to instigate corrections has left
us the only alternative of posting the building "SUB-STANDARD BUILDING -- DO NOT
OCCUPY", with the notification to the Springfield Utility Board to disconnect the
electrical supply and to witho1d that service until all violations are corrected
and approved by the Springfield Building Division.
Because of our inability to gain entry into two units, the following items in-
clude but are not limited to violations that will be required to be corrected
before a Certificate of Compliance can be issued.
STRUCTURAL AND FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
The' following items must be installed, repaired or replaced to conform to the
Uniform Housing Code CU.H.C.) as adopted by the City of Springfield:
1)
Every sleeping room below the fourth floor shall have
window or exterior door for emergency exit or rescue.
vided, they shall have a sill height of not more than
floor with a net clear openab1e area of not less than
.dimension less than 22 inches (Section 801 U.H.C.).
at least one openab1e
Where windows are pro-
60 inches above the
4 square feet with no
2) The exterior stairway still contains several code violations which constitute
inadequate and unsafe exit facilities as described in Section 1001 (i) and
1001 (1) of the U.H.C. In this regard, corrections shall be made in accor-'
dance with both the U.H.C. and the current Oregon State Structural Specialty
Code and Fire and Life Safety Code (S.S.C.).
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Mr. Alfred K. Phelps
.RE: Fire Damage at 1072~ Main Street
December 19, 1980
Page 2.
a) The rise of every step shall be not less than 4 inches nor greater than
8 inches (Section 330S(c) S.S.C.).
b) Wood located in direct contact with concrete shall be treated wood or
wood of natural resistance to decay (Section 2S17(c)7 S.S.C.).
c) Handrails shall be continuous the full length of the stairway and placed
not more than 34 inches above the nosing of the threds (Section 3305(j)
S.S.C.).
d) Guardrails and stair railings shall have intermediate rails such that a
sphere 9 inches in diameter cannot pass through (Section 1716 S.S.C;).
e) General dilapidation and improper maintenance of stairway supports (Sec-
tion 1001(b) U.H.C. and Section 2517(c) S.S.C.).
3) The foundation is inadequate for support of a permanent structure and fails
to provide sufficient access and clearances for underf100r areas (Section
1001(C) U.H.C. and Section 2517(c) S.S.C.).
4) The roof covering and wall protection has deteriorated and thus fails to pro-
vide effective waterproofing of the building (Section 1001(h) U.H.C.).
5) The fire and extensive heat from the fire has caused irreparable damage to the
gas wall heaters and piping (Section 1001(g) U.H.C.).
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
The electrical system has been improperly altered and maintained and constitutes
hazardous wiring as described in Section 1001(c) of the U.H.C. as adopted by the
City of Springfield. Although the existing electrical' system, may have met the
standards of the code that was in effect at the time of its installation, correc-
tions are required to be made in accordance with both the Uniform Housing Code
.as adopted by the City of Springfield and the current Oregon State Electrical
Specialty Code (E.S.C.).
1) The service equipment is not approved for an exterior location. Raintight
equipment must be installed for its present location (Section 701(b) U.H.C.
and Section 100-3 E.S.C.)..
2) Splices in the electrical wiring are required to be in covered junction boxes
that are accessible (Section 300-15 E.S.C.).
/ . Permits for rehabilitation or demolition of the building shall be obtained and
work must be started within 30 days from the date of this letter (January 18, 1980),
such work shab1 be completed and the property cleaned up within 60 days from the
date of this letter (February 17, 1980).
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Mr. Alfred K. Phelps
RE: Fire Damage at 1072~ Main Street
December 19, 1980
Page 3.
In the event that action is not taken to either raze the building or to repair
the building to bring it into compliance the matter will be referred to the
office of the City Attorney for appropriate legal action.
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David J. Puent
Building Inspector
cc: Joeseph Leahy, Assistant City Attorney
Howard Zink
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